Method and apparatus for forming a support lug of a cathode starting sheet assembly

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for forming a support lug of a cathode starting sheet assembly consisting of a starting sheet, a support rod and at least one support lug extending around said support rod and secured to opposite sides of said starting sheet, the method comprising bending a support lug blank around an auxiliary rod having a cross-sectional dimension being smaller than the corresponding dimension of said support rod, and thereafter removing said auxiliary rod and forcing said support rod firmly against the bent end of said support lug.

United States Patent [191 Lehtovaara [451 Nov. 19, 1974 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A SUPPORT LUG OF A CATHODE STARTING SHEET ASSEMBLY [75] Inventor: Jorma J. Lehtovaara, Merstham,

England [73] Assignee: Lonnstrom Oy, Rauma, Finland [22] Filed: Aug. 21, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 389,654

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 22, 1972 Sweden 10905/72 [52] US. Cl. 29/525, 29/203 D, 29/203 L, 29/526, 198/27, 204/198 [51] Int. Cl H01! 43/04, 823p 19/02 [58] Field of Search 29/203 L, 203 D, 429, 430, 29/525, 526; 198/27; 204/198 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Wennberg et a1. 198/27 3,711,923 1/1973 Kasper 29/203 L X Primary Examiner-Charlie T. Moon Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bucknam and Archer 5 7 ABSTRACT The invention relates to a method for forming a support lug of a cathode starting sheet assembly consisting of a starting sheet, a support rod and at least one support lug extending around said support rod and secured to opposite sides of said starting sheet, the method comprising bending a support lug blank around an auxiliary rod having a cross-sectional dimension being smaller than the corresponding dimension of said support rod, and thereafter removing said auxiliary rod and forcing said support rod firmly against the bent end of said support lug.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 7 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A SUPPORT LUG OF A CATHODE STARTING SHEET ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for forminga support lug of a cathode starting sheet assembly consisting of a starting sheet, a support rod and at least one support lug extending around said support rod and secured to opposite sides of said starting sheet.

2. Description of the Prior Art I It has been proposed to apply two pieces of lug blanks behind a sheet blank and a support rod advancing past a station for feeding lug blanks. Thereafter bending rolls bend the lug blanks into an open loop around the support rod. A drawback of this method is that the elastic lugs recoil slightly after the bending operation with the consequence that the connection be tween the support lugs and the rod becomes loose resulting in a poor electrical contact between said parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for bending the support lug blanks in a manner resulting in a firm connection between the support lugs and the support rod.

According to the inventionthe support rod is advanced in a position closer to the starting sheet blank than its final position, and the support rod being advanced past the lug feed station, the lug blanks are applied behind the support rod and bent around an auxiliary rod inserted between said lug blank and said support rod, and thereafter said auxiliary rod is removed. Upon securing of the lugs to the cathode starting sheet and turning the sheet into an upright position, the sheet will drop down to be supported by the lugs on the support rod. Since the auxiliary rod can be made substantially thinner than the support rod, it is possible to bend the support lugs with a smaller radius than has been possible by the hitherto known methods, and as a result thereof a firm connection between the lugs and the support rod is established upon turning the startingsheet and inserting the support rod into the lugs. This firm connection will reduce the transition resistance.

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing FIG. 1 shows a cathode starting sheet provided with support lugs and a support rod. FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention, and FIG. 3 illustrates the principle of bending the support lugs according to the method of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a conventional cathode starting sheet assembly consisting of a starting sheet 1, a support rod 2 and two support lugs 6 which are bent around the support rod 2 and have their ends secured to opposite sides of the starting sheet 1.

The apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention is shown in FIG. 2. A cathode starting sheet I and a support rod 2 are advanced together along a transport path in such a manner that the distance between the support rod 2 and the starting sheet I is substantially smaller than what it will be in the final electrolyzing bath. Upon stopping the starting sheet 1 and the support rod 2 at the support lug blank feeding station. an auxiliary rod 4 is inserted between the support rod 2 and the support lug blank feeding station 3, the support lug being bent around said auxiliary rod. The auxiliary rod 4 may be fed into its operative position in various manners depending on. for example, the position of the support lugs.

The preferred manner of feeding the auxiliary rod 4 into its operative position is illustrated in FIG. 2. During the advance of the starting sheet I and the support rod 2 the auxiliary rod 4 is in an inoperative position below the path of movement of the said parts. Upon stopping the sheet and the rod 2, the auxiliary rod 4 is raised to the same level the support rod 2, and the support lug blank 6 is fed against the auxiliary rod 4 and bent around it, the free ends of the lug 6 bearing against the starting sheet 1, and the support rod 2 being positioned within the lug 6. The ends of the lug 6 having been connectedto the starting sheet 1, by riveting in conventional manner by means of a riveting press, the auxiliary rod 4 is removed from within the lug 6 in a transverse direction, the auxiliary rod 4 is lowered and returned in the opposite transverse direction to its inoperative position, as illustrated by the arrows 4 during the bending operation. This bending is performed by bending roll means 5 supported on rods 7 which in turn are connected to operating means 8, such as hydraulic cylinders, for moving the roll means 5 back and forth. During the forward stroke of the roll means 5 the support lug blank 6 is bent around the auxiliary rod 4 to extend on both sides of support rod 2 with its free ends against opposite sides of starting sheet What is claimed is:

1. Method for forming a support lug of a cathode starting sheet assembly comprising a starting sheet, a support rod and at least one support lug extending around said support rod and secured to opposite sides of said starting sheet, comprising feeding a starting sheet blank and a support rod at a mutual distance being less than their mutual distance in the final starting sheet assembly to a support lug blank feeding station, inserting an auxiliary rod between said feeding station and said support rod at the side thereof being opposite to said starting sheet blank, said auxiliary rod having a cross-sectional dimension being smaller than the corresponding dimension of said support rod, feed- 2. Method for forming a support lug of a cathode starting sheet assembly comprising a starting sheet, a support rod and at least one support lug extending around said support rod and secured to opposite sides of said starting sheet, comprising feeding a starting sheet blank and a support rod in a horizontal position at a mutual distance being less than their mutual distance in the final starting sheet assembly to a support lug blank feeding station, inserting an auxiliary rod between said feeding station, and said support rod at the side thereof being opposite to said starting sheet blank, said auxiliary rod having a cross-sectional dimension being smaller than the corresponding dimension of said support rod, feeding at least one elongated support lug blank in an upright position against said auxiliary rod, bending said support lug blank around said auxiliary rod to form a support lug, securing said support lug to said starting sheet blank, removing said auxiliary rod, and moving said starting sheet blank and said support rod relatively to each other to force said support rod towards the bent end of said support lug.

3. Method for forming a support lug of a cathode starting sheet assembly comprising a starting sheet, a support rod and at least one support lug extending around said support rod and secured to opposite sides of said starting sheet, comprising feeding a starting sheet blank and a support rod in a horizontal position at a mutual distance being less than their mutual distance in the final starting sheet assembly to a support lug blank feeding station, inserting an auxiliary rod between said feeding station and said support rod at the side thereof being opposite to said starting sheet blank, said auxiliary rod having a cross-sectional dimension being smaller than the corresponding dimension of said support rod, feeding at least one elongated support lug blank in an upright position against said auxiliary rod, bending said support lug blank around said auxiliary rod to form a support lug, securing said support lug to said starting sheet blank, removing said auxiliary rod, turning said starting sheet into an upright position, and moving said starting sheet blank and said support rod relatively to each other to force said support rod towards the bent end of said, support lug.

4. Method for forming a support lug of a cathode starting sheet assembly comprising a starting sheet, a support rod and at least one support lug extending around said support rod and secured to opposite sides of said starting sheet, comprising feeding a starting sheet blank and a support rod ina horizontal position at a mutual distance being less than their mutual distance in the final starting sheet assembly to a support lug blank feeding station, inserting an auxiliary rod between said feeding station and said support rod at the side thereof being opposite to said starting sheet blank, said auxiliary rod having a cross-sectional dimension being smaller than the corresponding dimension of said support rod, feeding at least one elongated support lug blank in an upright position against said auxiliary rod, bending said support lug blank around said auxiliary rod to form a support lug. securing said support lug to said starting sheet blank, turning said starting sheet blank into an upright position, removing said auxiliary rod, and moving said starting sheet blank and said support rod relatively to each other to force said support rod towards the bent end of said support lug.

5. Apparatus for forming a support lug of a cathode startingsheet assembly consisting of a starting sheet. a support rod and at least one support lug extending around said support rod and secured to opposite sides of said starting sheet, comprising means for feeding a starting sheet blank and a support rod in a horizontal position at a distance from each other being less than their corresponding distance in the final starting sheet assembly; a support lug blank feeding station including means for feeding at least one elongated support lug blank.

comprising an auxiliary rod having a cross-sectional dimension being smaller than the corresponding dimension of said support rod; means for moving said auxiliary rod between an inoperative position and an operative position; a support lug blank feeding station including means for feeding at least one elongated support lug blank against said auxiliary rod in its operative position; means for feeding a starting sheet blank and a support rod in a horozontal position at a mutual distance being less than their mutual distance in the final starting sheet assembly adjacent to said auxiliary rod in this operative position atthe side thereof opposite to said support lug blank feeding station; and means for bending said support lug blank around said auxiliary rod to form a support lug.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 and further including means for securing said support lug to said starting sheet blank and means for moving said starting blank sheet and said support rod relatively to each other upon removal of said auxiliary rod for forcing said support rod towards the bent end of'said support lug. 

1. Method for forming a support lug of a cathode starting sheet assembly comprising a starting sheet, a support rod and at least one support lug extending around said support rod and secured to opposite sides of said starting sheet, comprising feeding a starting sheet blank and a support rod at a mutual distance being less than their mutual distance in the final starting sheet assembly to a support lug blank feeding station, inserting an auxiliary rod between said feeding station and said support rod at the side thereof being opposite to said starting sheet blank, said auxiliary rod having a cross-sectional dimension being smaller than the corresponding dimension of said support rod, feeding at least one support lug blank against said auxiliary rod, bending said support lug blank around said suxiliary rod to form a support lug, and removing said auxiliary rod.
 2. Method for forming a support lug of a cathode starting sheet assembly comprising a starting sheet, a support rod and at least one support lug extending around said support rod and secured to opposite sides of said starting sheet, comprising feeding a starting sheet blank and a support rod in a horizontal position at a mutual distance being less than their mutual distance in the final starting sheet assembly to a support lug blank feeding station, inserting an auxiliary rod between said feeding station, and said support rod at the side thereof being opposite to said starting sheet blank, said auxiliary rod having a cross-sectional dimension being smaller Than the corresponding dimension of said support rod, feeding at least one elongated support lug blank in an upright position against said auxiliary rod, bending said support lug blank around said auxiliary rod to form a support lug, securing said support lug to said starting sheet blank, removing said auxiliary rod, and moving said starting sheet blank and said support rod relatively to each other to force said support rod towards the bent end of said support lug.
 3. Method for forming a support lug of a cathode starting sheet assembly comprising a starting sheet, a support rod and at least one support lug extending around said support rod and secured to opposite sides of said starting sheet, comprising feeding a starting sheet blank and a support rod in a horizontal position at a mutual distance being less than their mutual distance in the final starting sheet assembly to a support lug blank feeding station, inserting an auxiliary rod between said feeding station and said support rod at the side thereof being opposite to said starting sheet blank, said auxiliary rod having a cross-sectional dimension being smaller than the corresponding dimension of said support rod, feeding at least one elongated support lug blank in an upright position against said auxiliary rod, bending said support lug blank around said auxiliary rod to form a support lug, securing said support lug to said starting sheet blank, removing said auxiliary rod, turning said starting sheet into an upright position, and moving said starting sheet blank and said support rod relatively to each other to force said support rod towards the bent end of said support lug.
 4. Method for forming a support lug of a cathode starting sheet assembly comprising a starting sheet, a support rod and at least one support lug extending around said support rod and secured to opposite sides of said starting sheet, comprising feeding a starting sheet blank and a support rod in a horizontal position at a mutual distance being less than their mutual distance in the final starting sheet assembly to a support lug blank feeding station, inserting an auxiliary rod between said feeding station and said support rod at the side thereof being opposite to said starting sheet blank, said auxiliary rod having a cross-sectional dimension being smaller than the corresponding dimension of said support rod, feeding at least one elongated support lug blank in an upright position against said auxiliary rod, bending said support lug blank around said auxiliary rod to form a support lug, securing said support lug to said starting sheet blank, turning said starting sheet blank into an upright position, removing said auxiliary rod, and moving said starting sheet blank and said support rod relatively to each other to force said support rod towards the bent end of said support lug.
 5. Apparatus for forming a support lug of a cathode starting sheet assembly consisting of a starting sheet, a support rod and at least one support lug extending around said support rod and secured to opposite sides of said starting sheet, comprising means for feeding a starting sheet blank and a support rod in a horizontal position at a distance from each other being less than their corresponding distance in the final starting sheet assembly; a support lug blank feeding station including means for feeding at least one elongated support lug blank. comprising an auxiliary rod having a cross-sectional dimension being smaller than the corresponding dimension of said support rod; means for moving said auxiliary rod between an inoperative position and an operative position; a support lug blank feeding station including means for feeding at least one elongated support lug blank against said auxiliary rod in its operative position; means for feeding a starting sheet blank and a support rod in a horozontal position at a mutual distance being less than their mutual distance in the final starting sheet assembly adjacent to said auxiliary rod in this operative position at the sidE thereof opposite to said support lug blank feeding station; and means for bending said support lug blank around said auxiliary rod to form a support lug.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 5 and further including means for securing said support lug to said starting sheet blank and means for moving said starting blank sheet and said support rod relatively to each other upon removal of said auxiliary rod for forcing said support rod towards the bent end of said support lug. 